Station Operation Method and Apparatus in TV Whitespace

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a station (hereinafter, ‘STA’) operation method and apparatus in a TV whitespace. In a TVWS band, when an STA operating as an unlicensed device with permission to operate in an available channel not used by a licensed device needs to operate in the TVWS band by acquiring information on the available channel, the STA transmits an available channel information request message to a device having database information; receives, from the device having database information, an ACK message for the available channel information that includes (a) identification information on an available channel, (b) information on the maximum allowable power level in the available channel, and (c) information on valid time of the available channel; and transmits/receives a signal using the information of (a), (b) and (c), i.e., using the maximum allowable power level within the valid time in the available channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a station (hereinafter, referred to as‘STA’) operation method and apparatus in TV whitespace.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Standards for WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technologies aredeveloped as IEEE 802.11 standards. Among amendments of the IEEE 802.11standards, IEEE 802.11a/b provide transmission rates of 11 Mbps (IEEE802.11b) and 54 Mbps (IEEE 802.11a) using an unlicensed band at 2.4 GHzor 5 GHz. IEEE 802.11g provides a transmission rate of 54 Mbps usingOFDM at 2.4 GHz. IEEE 802.11n provides a transmission rate of 300 Mbpsfor 4 spatial streams using MIMO-OFDM (Multiple Input MultipleOutput-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). IEEE 802.11nsupports channel bandwidths of up to 40 MHz and, in this case, providesa transmission rate of 600 Mbps.

IEEE 802.11af standards regulate WLAN operation of an unlicensed devicein a TV whitespace zone.

TV whitespace (referred to as ‘TVWS’ hereinafter) is a frequencyallocated to broadcast TV and can include UHF and VHF bands. While theTVWS can include 54 MHz to 698 MHz (US and Korea), part of thesefrequency bands may not be used for unlicensed devices in somecountries.

In a frequency band, an STA operating as an unlicensed device can use anavailable channel that is not used by a licensed device. Accordingly, itis important for an STA that needs to use TVWS to acquire informationabout an available channel that is not used by a licensed device. Toachieve this, the STA can perform spectrum sensing at the locationthereof in order to obtain information on the available channel.

Unlicensed devices using TVWS need to provide a protection function foroperations of licensed devices (which may be referred to as ‘incumbentusers’ or ‘primary users’). That is, when an incumbent user such as amicrophone uses a specific band used by an STA, the STA needs to stopusing a channel corresponding to the band in order to protect theincumbent user.

To this end, STAs may require a frequency sensing mechanism. An energydetection scheme, a signature detection scheme and the like can be usedas the frequency sensing mechanism. An STA can determine that a band isbeing used by an incumbent user if the intensity of a received signalexceeds a predetermined value, or when a DTV preamble is detected.

Furthermore, a signaling protocol such as a common beacon frame, thefrequency sensing mechanism, etc. may be needed in order to solve theproblem of coexistence of unlicensed devices using TVWS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, when an STA operating as an unlicensed device inTVWS depends only on frequency sensing to acquire information on anavailable channel, the burden of the STA due to sensing of a TVWSoperation grows heavier and a TWVS operation procedure may be delayed.Moreover, information sensed by the STA may include a probabilisticerror such as a false alarm, mis-detection, etc., and thus more accurateinformation is required according to location information.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method in which an STAoperating as an unlicensed device in TVWS performs a WLAN operation byeffectively acquiring information on an available channel from adatabase on the basis of location information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a station operationmethod in a TVWS (TV White Space) band, in which a station operating asan unlicensed device with permission to operate in an available channelthat is not used by a licensed device operates in the TVWS band byacquiring information on the available channel, the station operationmethod including: transmitting an available channel information requestmessage to a device having database information; receiving, from thedevice having database information, an available channel informationresponse message including (a) identification information on anavailable channel, (b) information on valid time of the availablechannel, and (c) information on a maximum allowable power level in theavailable channel; and transmitting/receiving a signal using theinformation of (a), (b) and (c) using the maximum allowable power levelwithin the valid time in the available channel.

One or both of the available channel information request message and theavailable channel information response message may include informationon a plurality of available channels.

The available channel information response message may additionallyinclude (d) information on a device type to which the available channelinformation response message can be applied.

The station may be an access point (AP) and the device having databaseinformation may be a database. In this case, the available channelinformation request message and the available channel informationresponse message may be a channel scheduling request message and achannel scheduling response message, respectively.

The available channel information request message may include a categoryfield that indicates the category of the available channel informationrequest message, an action value field that indicates an action to beperformed through the available channel information request message inthe category, a source address field that indicates the address of adevice transmitting the available channel information request message, adestination address field that indicates a device receiving theavailable channel information request message, and a field thatindicates identification information on a plurality of availablechannels.

The available channel information response message may include acategory field that indicates the category of the available channelinformation response message, an action value field that indicates anaction to be performed through the available channel informationresponse message in the category, a source address field that indicatesthe address of a device transmitting the available channel informationresponse message, a destination address field that indicates a devicereceiving the available channel information response message, and fieldsthat indicate the information of (a), (b) and (c) for each of aplurality of available channels.

The information on valid time may include information on an availableduration of the available channel, starting from when the availablechannel information response message is received, or include informationon available start time of the available channel according to theavailable channel information response message, and information on anavailable duration of the available channel, starting from the availablestart time.

The available channel information response message may additionallyinclude an identifier that indicates whether the information on validtime represents the information on an available duration of theavailable channel, starting from when the available channel informationresponse message is received, or the information on available start timeand information on an available duration of the available channel,starting from the available start time.

The device having database information may be an AP and the station maybe provided with a service by the AP.

The information on valid time may be defined depending on the devicetype information. Specifically, the available channel informationresponse message may not include the valid time information when thedevice type information corresponds to a first mode device that has noauthority to directly access the database information, and the availablechannel information response message may include the valid timeinformation when the device type information corresponds to a fixeddevice or a second mode device having the authority to directly accessthe database information.

The valid time information may include valid time information commonlyapplied to a plurality of available channels.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a stationoperating as an unlicensed device with permission to operate in anavailable channel that is not used by a licensed device in a TVWS bandincludes: a transceiver configured to transmit an available channelinformation request message to a device having database information andreceive, from the device having database information, an availablechannel information response message including (a) identificationinformation on an available channel, (b) information on valid time ofthe available channel, and (c) information on a maximum allowable powerlevel in the available channel; and a processor configured to controlthe transceiver to transmit/receive a signal using the information of(a), (b) and (c) using the maximum allowable power level within thevalid time in the available channel.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention,an STA operating as an unlicensed device in a TVWS band can execute aWLAN operation by effectively acquiring information on an availablechannel from a database on the basis of location information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system structure to which the present invention canbe applied;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a scheme in which an STA operates byacquiring available channel information from a device having databaseinformation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view referred to for describing types of devices operatingin a WLAN system for use in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view referred to for describing available channel variationdepending on a device type;

FIG. 5 illustrates a WSM structure according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary channel scheduling request frame formataccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary channel scheduling response frame formataccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary WSM fo mat;

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate exemplary channel map fields;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary channel map field;

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate exemplary channel map fields;

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate exemplary channel map fields;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views referred to for describing a method ofrespectively transmitting different information on an available channelto devices in the situation of FIG. 4 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are views referred to for describing a method ofinforming each device of information on a common available channel andnotifying a personal/mobile device of an additional available channel inthe situation of FIG. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates two exemplary frequency mask classes for describingan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a view referred to for describing two personal/mobile deviceshaving different maximum power values in the same TV channel when theyuse different frequency masks;

FIG. 22 illustrates application of device types for transmittingdifferent channel maps to personal/mobile devices that support differentspectrum mask classes according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 23 illustrates a configuration of an AP and an STA according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thedetailed description, which will be given below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, is intended to explain exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention, rather than to show the only embodiments that canbe implemented according to the invention. The following detaileddescription includes specific details in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout such specific details.

In some instances, known structures and devices are omitted or are shownin block diagram form, focusing on important features of the structuresand devices, so as not to obscure the concept of the invention. The samereference numbers will be used throughout this specification to refer tothe same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a view referred to for describing a system structure to whichthe present invention can be applied.

An IEEE 802.11 TVWS STA is an unlicensed device that operates using anIEEE 802.11 MAC layer and PHY layer in a TVWS frequency band. STAsoperating in a TVWS frequency band may be classified according to rolesthereof into an STA 1230 operating as an AP (Access Point) and STAs 1240provided with a service by the specific AP 1230.

The following embodiments of the present invention will be described onthe assumption that the STAs 1230 and 1240 operating as unlicenseddevices in TVWS use database information having available channel dataaccording to regional locations thereof in order to acquire informationon available channels.

A database 1210, for example, a TV band database may have information onavailable channels in a TV band. This database information includesconsiderably accurate location-based information of about 50 m, ingeneral. An RLS (Registered Location Server) 1220 may be a serverincluding information on registered locations of all APs operating inTVWS. While FIG. 1 illustrates the TV band database 1210 and the RLS1220 as separate devices, they may be implemented as one TV banddatabase device.

If an STA operating as an unlicensed device in TVWS needs to operate asan AP, the STA should register the location thereof in the RLS 1220. TheAP 1230 can acquire available channel information of the databaseaccording to registrations. Then, the AP 1230 can provide the databaseinformation to the STAs 1240 that belong thereto.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method in which an STA operates by acquiringavailable channel information from a device having database informationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

An STA operating as an unlicensed device in TVWS can transmit anavailable channel information request message to a device havingdatabase information (S210). The STA that transmits the availablechannel information request message may be an AP or an STA provided witha service by a specific AP. Specifically, the AP can transmit theavailable channel information request message to an RLS or databaseserving as a device having database information. Otherwise, an AP thathas acquired database information according to this method can functionas a device having database information and STAs belonging to the AP cantransmit the available channel information request message to the AP.

The available channel information request message may have a format asshown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Order Information 1 Category 2 Action 3 Destination MAC Address4 Source MAC Address 5 Supported Channels

As shown in Table 1, the available channel information request messageaccording to the current embodiment of the present invention may includea category field, an action value field, a source address field, adestination address field, and a field indicating supported channels forone or more available channels.

The category field can represent the category of the available channelinformation request message, and the action value field can indicate anaction to be performed through the available channel information requestmessage in the category. The source address field can represent theaddress of an AP that transmits the available channel informationrequest message. If an STA belonging to a specific AP transmits theavailable channel information request message, the source address fieldcan indicate the address of the STA. The destination address field canindicate the address of an RLS (DB) when the RLS (DB) receives theavailable channel information request message and indicate the addressof an AP when the AP receives the available channel information requestmessage. Furthermore, the available channel information request messagecan include information on channels supported by an STA that transmitsthe available channel information request message. When the informationindicates a plurality of channels, the available channel informationrequest message can be transmitted in the form of a list of theplurality of channels.

The RLS (DB) or AP that has received the available channel informationrequest message can transmit an available channel information responsemessage to the AP or STA in response to the available channelinformation request message (S220). In the current embodiment, theavailable channel information response message includes the followinginformation.

(a) Identification information on an available channel

(b) Information on the maximum allowable power level in the availablechannel

(c) Information on valid time of the available channel

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the availablechannel information response message may be transmitted withoutinformation on the maximum allowable power level in the availablechannel according to use of the available channel information responsemessage. When the available channel information response message doesnot include the information on the maximum allowable power level in theavailable channel, it can be considered that only an action associatedwith the information of (b) is omitted. Thus, the following descriptionis made on the assumption that the available channel informationresponse message includes all the information of (a), (b) and (c) forconvenience of explanation. However, it is noted that the actionassociated with the information of (b) can be omitted.

Different maximum power levels may be allowed for available channelsthat can be used by unlicensed devices in TVWS. For example, when CH1,CH2 and CH3 are indicated as available channels, different maximumtransmit power levels may be allowed for the respective channels inconsideration of the influence on a neighboring channel. For example,maximum transmit power values of 40 mW, 100 mW and 40 mW can berespectively allowed for CH1, CH2 and CH3. Information on a maximumallowable power level in an available channel can indicate the maximumallowable power for the available channel. This maximum allowable powermay be maximum allowable power conforming to FCC regulations.

The information on valid time of the available channel can indicateinformation on a time for which a device that has received the availablechannel information response message is allowed to use the availablechannel. As described above, an unlicensed device operating in TVWSneeds to execute a function of protecting an incumbent user. It ispossible to efficiently control the function of protecting the incumbentuser by informing the device of the information on the valid time of theavailable channel when the information on the available channel isindicated. For example, when valid time for an available channel is 10minutes, an AP/STA that has received this information can use theavailable channel for 10 minutes from when the information is received.After the lapse of the valid time, the AP/STA can transmit the availablechannel information response message to a device (RLS (DB)/AP) havingdatabase information to acquire available channel information.

The number of each of the information elements of (a), (b) and (c) cancorrespond to the number of available channels. Table 2 shows an exampleof the available channel information response message.

TABLE 2 Order Information 1 Category 2 Action 3 Destination MAC Address4 Source MAC Address 5 Target Channel(s) 6 White Space Available Time(s)7 Power Constraint(s)

Category, action value, destination address, and source address fieldsin Table 2 correspond to those shown in Table 1. In Table 2, “TargetChannel(s)” may include (a) identification information on an availablechannel that will be used by an STA receiving the available channelinformation response message for a WLAN operation, and “White SpaceAvailable Time(s)” may include (b) information on valid time of theavailable channel. Further, “Power Constraint(s)” may represent maximumallowable transmit power for each available channel.

Upon reception of the available channel information, the device performsa WLAN operation using the received information (S230). Specifically,the device that has received the available channel information cantransmit/receive a WLAN signal using power within the designated maximumallowable power for the designated valid time in the available channelaccording to the received information. If a specific AP receives theavailable channel information response message from an RLS (DB), the APcan transmit some or all of the received information to STAs belongingthereto. If an STA belonging to the specific AP receives the availablechannel information response message from the AP, the STA can limit aWLAN operation to an available channel indicated by the receivedavailable channel information response message in such a manner that theSTA performs a scanning operation for network connection only for thedesignated available channel, to thereby mitigate scanning/sensingloads. In the following description, the aforementioned availablechannel information is simply referred to as a WSM (White Space MAP).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned WSMadditionally includes information on a device type to which the WSM isapplied.

FIG. 3 is a view referred to for describing types of devices operatingin a WLAN system for use in the present invention.

In the WLAN system to which the present invention is applied, devicescan be largely divided into fixed devices and personal/portable devices.A fixed device can enter a network by sending an enable signal to one ormore fixed devices and personal/portable devices according toregulations. FIG. 3 illustrates that a fixed device operates as anenabling STA of another fixed device and a personal/portable device tosignal a channel map through an enable signal using a beacon.

As described above, information on the device type to which the WSM isapplied is added to the WSM in the current embodiment because devicetypes may have different available channels and maximum allowable powervalues. Fixed devices cannot use a channel next to a TV channel beingused by an incumbent user. However, personal/portable devices can usethe channel next to the TV channel being used by the incumbent user onthe condition that the maximum allowable power value of the channel isreduced from 100 mW to 40 mW.

Therefore, the WSM preferably includes device type information alongwith available TV channel numbers and a maximum transmit power fieldcorresponding to each available TV channel. FIG. 3 shows that a fixeddevice operating as a master transmits a channel map (e.g. WSM) toanother fixed device and a personal/portable device operating asclients. Specifically, the fixed device operating as a masterrespectively adds a device type corresponding to the other fixed deviceoperating as a client and a device type corresponding to thepersonal/portable device to a WSM, transmits the WSM for the other fixeddevice (WSM having a device type field indicating the fixed device) tothe other fixed device, and sends the WSM for the personal/portabledevice (WSM having a device type field indicating the personal/portabledevice) to the personal/portable device.

In the current embodiment, a device type does not signal the type of adevice that transmits the WSM including the device type but signals thetype of a device capable of using the WSM, which is provided with aservice by the device transmitting the WSM. The device type informationmay signal the spectrum mask value of an STA capable of using the WSM inaddition to information on a fixed device and personal/portable device.

It is assumed that a fixed device cannot use a WSM including a devicetype corresponding to a personal/portable device in the presentembodiment of the invention. This is because when a WSM includes adevice type field corresponding to a personal/portable device, a channelthat cannot be used by a fixed device may be included in the WSM as anavailable channel.

FIG. 4 is a view referred to for describing an available channelvariation depending on a device type.

In FIG. 4, on the assumption that the first channel is TV channel #21and the last channel is TV channel #25, when TV channels #21 and #25 areoccupied by an incumbent user, a fixed device can operate at a maximumpower of 100 mW in TV channel #23 other than neighboring channels #22and #24 of the TV channels #21 and #25 occupied by the incumbent user. Apersonal/portable device can operate at a maximum power of 40 mW in theneighboring channels #22 and #24 and at a maximum power or 100 mW in TVchannel #23.

That is, channel map information depends on device type. A fixed deviceand a personal/portable device that receive WSM information need toidentify channel maps assigned thereto. Accordingly, a fixed device in amaster mode indicates whether a channel map is for a fixed device or apersonal/portable device through a device type when transmitting thechannel map.

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of a WSM according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

The WSM can include device type, map ID, channel number, maximum powerlevel, and valid time fields. The device type can be used to indicatewhether the WSM is for a fixed device or a personal/portable device, asdescribed above. The map ID field can be used to distinguish the WSMfrom other WSMs, and the channel number field can indicate the number ofa TV channel available in TVWS. It is noted that the present inventioncan indicate available channels using a method other than the channelnumber (e.g. an available frequency which will be described later). Themaximum power level field can indicate a maximum power level allowed foreach available channel according to FCC regulations as described above.

The WSM can include the field indicating valid time information on eachavailable channel. The valid time field may indicate valid timeinformation on each available channel or valid time information for theoverall WSM. If the WSM is for a fixed device, the valid time field caninclude valid time information on each available channel. However, adevice such as an STA belonging to a specific AP (referred to as ‘firstmode device’ hereinafter) may not require the valid time information oneach available channel. The first mode device may check whether thereceived WSM is valid by receiving an acknowledgement signal atpredetermined intervals (e.g. every 60 seconds). Valid time informationmay be determined or omitted according to device type.

Descriptions will be given of detailed examples to which theabove-described embodiments of the present invention are applied.

Example Applied to a Case in which a Device Capable of Transmitting aWSM Inquires of a Database of Scheduling Information on Each AvailableChannel

It is assumed that the device capable of transmitting the WSM (e.g. anenabling STA that manages enabling of other unlicensed devices or adependent AP that is enabled by a different device) configures the validtime field of the WSM through database query about a list of availablechannels constituting the WSM.

To achieve this, the enabling STA or dependent AP can transmit a channelscheduling request frame to a database.

FIG. 6 illustrates a format of a channel scheduling request frameaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The channel scheduling request frame can include channel schedulinginformation, that is, a channel list used to obtain available start timeand an available duration of a specific TV channel. In FIG. 6,“Available Channel Number” field can indicate the channel list. Forexample, if available channels are CH1, CH2, CH3, and CH4, the channelscheduling request frame including channel numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 can betransmitted. In this example, it is assumed that the enabling STA ordependent AP that requests channel scheduling information previouslyknows the available channels through the WSM.

In FIG. 6, “RequesterSTAAddress” indicates the address of the devicethat transmits the channel scheduling request frame.“ResponderSTAAddress” represents the address of a device that receivesthe channel scheduling request frame. “Length” can have a valuedepending on the number of available channels related with the channelscheduling information. “Available Channel Number” can indicate anavailable channel number corresponding to the channel schedulinginformation.

In this example, upon reception of the channel scheduling request frame,the database can transmit the information on the available start timeand available duration of the channel designated by the requestedchannel number (e.g. the available channel number of the channelscheduling request frame) through a channel scheduling response frame inresponse to the request of the enabling STA or dependent AP.

FIG. 7 illustrates a format of a channel scheduling response frameaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 7, “RequesterSTAAddress” indicates the address of a device thattransmits a channel scheduling request frame. “ResponderSTAAddress”represents the address of a device that receives the channel schedulingrequest frame. “Length” indicates the overall length of channelscheduling information. “Available Channel Number” indicates anavailable channel corresponding to the channel scheduling information.“Available Start Time” can represent start time of an available durationof an available channel and “Available Duration” can indicate theavailable duration of the available channel.

If the available duration start time is always set to the current time(frame reception time), information on the available duration start timecan be omitted. In this case, the channel scheduling response frame mayinclude a channel scheduling type value indicting whether the channelscheduling response frame includes the available duration start time.

If the channel scheduling type is 0, the available duration start timeis the current time (frame reception time) all the time and the channelscheduling response frame may not include the available duration starttime. Conversely, if the channel scheduling type is 1, the availableduration start time may be a future time and the channel schedulingresponse frame may include the available duration start time.

Example Applied to Channel Switching Mechanism

The above-mentioned embodiments are applied to a channel switchingmechanism for STAs operating in a TVWS frequency band.

The STAs can directly perform channel switching during linktransmission. The off-channel mechanism in. IEEE 802.11z Tunneled DirectLink Setup (TDLS) is an example of the channel switching mechanism. Theoff-channel mechanism means that STAs moves to a channel that is notused by an AP to perform direct link transmission between the STAs. Toachieve this, the STAs can negotiate a target channel through a channelswitching request frame and a channel switching response frame, and thenmove to the target channel.

Furthermore, an STA can perform channel switching when the STA operatesas an AP for other STAs. Wi-Fi Direct proposed by Wi-Fi AlliancePeer-to-Peer (P2P) group is an exemplary channel switching mechanism. Inthe Wi-Fi Direct, an STA can be linked as a client of an AP and,simultaneously, function as an AP for other STAs. Here, the STA canserve as an AP of STAs corresponding to clients thereof in a channelother than the channel over which the STA is linked as a client of theAP.

An STA operating in a TVWS frequency band preferably selects a targetchannel for channel switching. Furthermore, the STA preferably considersprotection of an incumbent user when selecting the target channel. Thatis, the STA can be required to confirm whether the incumbent user ispresent through frequency sensing.

If an STA cannot secure database information based on regional locationinformation thereof, the STA corresponds to a sensing only device andtransmit power in a target channel is limited to 50 mW. On the contrary,if the STA can secure the database information, the STA can use up to100 mW as transmit power even in the target channel.

Therefore, when an STA operating in a TVWS frequency band selects atarget channel to perform channel switching, the target channel informsthe STA of restrictions on transmit power thereof. To this end, the STAincludes a power restriction information element in a channel switchingrequest action management frame and transmits the channel switchingrequest action management frame with the power restriction informationelement to a counterpart STA. Furthermore, the counterpart STA transmitsa channel switching response action management frame including the powerrestriction information element in response to the channel switchingrequest action management frame.

If STAs transmit different power restriction values, the maximumtransmit power in the target channel can be determined as a lower powerrestriction value between the different power restriction values. Forexample, a fixed device can have a power restriction value differentfrom that of a personal/portable device. In this case, a lower value ofthe two power restriction values is determined during power restrictionvalue negotiation.

When an STA cannot secure database information, the STA may request anAP to allocate a target channel. For this, the STA can transmit a whitespace channel request action management frame to the AP. Then, the APcan respond to the request of the STA by transmitting a white spacechannel response action management frame. In this example, the whitespace channel response action management frame can include the number ofthe target channel allocated by the AP, information on allocated time,which indicates available time, and power restriction information.

The information on allocated time corresponds to a maximum time forwhich the target channel can be used. After the lapse of the allocatedtime, the STA should return to a basic channel or inquire of the APabout a target channel. This is for the AP to control the use of thetarget channel at predetermined intervals considering that an incumbentuser is present in the allocated target channel.

When the AP allocates the target channel, maximum transmit power in thetarget channel can be determined through a power restriction informationelement.

When an incumbent user is present in the target channel allocated by theAP, the AP preferably informs STAs of the presence of the incumbent userthrough an unsolicited whitespace channel response action managementframe. An STA that has received the unsolicited whitespace channelresponse action management frame can stop switching to a previously settarget channel.

In other words, the whitespace channel request action management framecan be regarded as an example of the available channel informationrequest message described with reference to FIG. 2, and the whitespacechannel response action management frame can be considered to be anexample of the available channel information response message describedwith reference to FIG. 2. Accordingly, the whitespace channel requestaction management frame can have the format of Table 1 and thewhitespace channel response action management frame can have the formatof Table 2.

The AP may reserve an arbitrary channel as a new target channel and thentransmit information on the new target channel to STAs rather than beingrequested by the STA to allocate the new target channel. A backupchannel is a representative of the arbitrary channel. When an incumbentuser is present in a primary channel currently being used, the AP canmove to the backup channel. The AP can include information on the backupchannel in a beacon frame and a probe response frame and transmit thebeacon frame and probe response frame including the information on thebackup channel to the STAs.

While the backup channel is not actually used by the AP, communicationbetween STAs can be performed in the backup channel. If the backupchannel is changed, the AP can inform the STAs of the backup channelchange through a channel switch announcement frame. Otherwise, the APcan include the information on the backup channel in the beacon frameand probe response frame and transmit the beacon frame and proberesponse frame to the STAs.

Table 3 shows an exemplary channel switching announcement actionmanagement frame format used when a channel being used by an AP in a WSfrequency band is switched.

TABLE 3 Order Information 1 Category 2 Action 3 Channel SwitchAnnouncement element 4 Secondary Channel Offset element 5 Backup Channelelement

Compared to a channel switching announcement action management frameused in IEEE 802.11h/n, backup channel information is added to thechannel switching announcement action management frame. Exemplary backupchannel information is shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Element ID Length Backup Channel Number Octets: 1 1 1

In Table 4, the backup channel information can indicate a backup channelnumber. When the AP changes the backup channel because an incumbent useris present in the backup channel, the AP can transmit a channelswitching announcement action management frame including the backupchannel information. Otherwise, the AP can include the backup channelinformation in a beacon frame and probe response frame and transmit thebeacon frame and probe response frame including the backup channelinformation.

Other Examples of WSM

The WSM includes information on whether a TV signal occupies a channel.The WSM can indicate the numbers of channels available for unlicenseddevices at a specific time, maximum power levels allowed in thechannels, and information on effective duration of each availablechannel in the form of a list.

An enabling STA can transmit a WSM to a dependent STA. A dependent APenabled by the enabling STA can transmit a WSM to the dependent STA.This is for the purpose of efficiently supporting scanning procedures ofdependent STAs operating in a TVWS, as described above. A descriptionwill be given of available formats of a WSM.

FIG. 8 illustrates one of the available formats of a WSM.

In the WSM format shown in FIG. 8, a “country code” field providesinformation on the location of a channel map following this field. Thatis, countries may have different TV bands and TV channel bandwidths, anddifferent regulatory domains are assigned to the countries. Accordingly,the country code field helps recognize the physical location of a TVchannel available for an STA that receives the WSM along with a channelmap field. The country code field can signal a country string value of 3octets. That is, the first 2 octets indicate a country code defined inISO/IEC 3166-1 and the last octet means an environment. The country codefield can include more detailed information than country information inan extensive manner. For example, the country code field can include aregional code value of a specific country.

Although the basic unit of a channel map that signals whether or not achannel is available is not limited to a TV channel bandwidth, it can bechannel information in the smallest basic unit provided by a database ofa corresponding regulatory domain. When the smallest basic unitconstituting an available channel list provided by a database of a TVWSband is a TV channel bandwidth, the basic unit of a channel map becomesa TV channel bandwidth. The TV channel bandwidth of America and Korea is6 MHz and some countries have TV channel bandwidths of 7 MHz and 8 MHz.

The channel map field includes the number of an available TV channel anda maximum transmit power level corresponding to each available TVchannel according to FCC regulations.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate exemplary channel map fields.

In FIG. 9, a WSM includes device type information, available channelnumbers (N, M, . . . , K), maximum allowable power in each availablechannel, and information on valid time applied to the entire WSM. Asdescribed above, it is more desirable to inform a first mode device ofthe valid time for the entire WSM received by the first mode devicerather than information on valid time for each available channel. Inthis case, the WSM format shown in FIG. 9 can be used.

FIG. 10 shows a WSM including device type information, available channelnumbers (N, . . . , K), maximum allowable power in each availablechannel, and information on valid time for each available channel. Asdescribed above, it is desirable to inform a fixed device or a secondmode device of information on valid time for each available channel. Inthis case, the WSM format shown in FIG. 10 can be used.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, K, M, N, L, S specify TV channel numbers.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary channel map field.

While the channel map field may be signaled in a tuple of channelnumbers and maximum transmit power levels, the channel map field can besignaled in a bitmap form as shown in FIG. 11 in consideration ofoverhead.

Otherwise, a channel map can be signaled as a bitmap in which the numberof an available channel is 1 and the number of an unavailable channel is0 from among all channels in a channel list. Here, since an availablechannel list depends on device type, the length of the entire channellist and a maximum allowable transmit power level for each channel canbe determined according to device type.

TV channels available for transmission between TVWS 802.11 AP and STAhave a bandwidth of 6 MHz in the US and correspond to channel numbers 21to 51. That is, it is necessary to indicate whether primary users arepresent in 30 TV channels. A bitmap for TV channels #21 to #51 can beconfigured in ascending order or descending order in such a manner thata channel in which a primary user is present is indicated by 0(unavailable) and a channel in which a primary user is not present isindicated by 1 (available) or vice versa.

The device type indicates whether the corresponding channel mapcorresponds to a TV channel assigned to a personal/portable device or toa TV channel assigned to a fixed device. If the device type is 0, achannel bitmap (bits 1 to 30) may be bitmap information on TV channels#21 to #51. It may be necessary to indicate whether primary users arepresent in 54 to 60 MHz, 76 to 88 MHz, 174 to 216 MHz and 470 to 512 MHzwhich are assigned for communication between fixed devices when an STAthat receives the channel map is a fixed device or as occasion demands.For this, when the device type is 1, bits 1 to 18 may be recognized asbitmap information.

In FIG. 11, “starting channel number (S)” represents the number of a TVchannel from which a bitmap is started. “Number of channels (L)”represents the number of channels starting from the starting channelnumber in the bitmap indicated in the channel map. The length of thechannel bitmap following “number of channels” field depends on the valueof the “number of channels” field.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show exemplary channel maps.

FIG. 12 shows a case in which a database signals channels that are notused by licensed users using a frequency rather than signaling anavailable channel for each TV channel. Specifically, a start frequencythat can be used and a stop frequency at which the correspondingavailable frequency block ends are indicated and maximum transmit poweravailable in the corresponding frequency block is signaled. FIG. 13shows a case in which information on valid time of each availablefrequency band is additionally signaled. In FIG. 12, since there is ahigh possibility that available frequency bands of unlicensed devicesare discontinuous rather than continuous according to characteristics ofused frequency of licensed users, a tuple of start frequency, stopfrequency and maximum allowable transmit power can be repeated in thechannel map field to signal a plurality of tuples. In FIG. 13,quadruplets of start frequency, stop frequency, maximum allowabletransmit power and valid time may be repeated in the channel map fieldto signal a plurality of quadruplets.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show other exemplary channel maps.

FIGS. The channel maps shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are used to signal acenter frequency and an available band using a channel bandwidth when afrequency band that can be used at a specific time in a specificlocation is signaled. For example, if a frequency of 10 MHz on each ofboth sides of 690 MHz is available, this frequency band is signaledusing a center frequency of 690 MHz and a channel bandwidth of 20 MHz.Here, maximum allowable transmit power for the frequency band can besignaled along with the frequency band. An available frequency band foreach available channel block is signaled in this manner.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, valid timeinformation is signaled for each tuple. Since channels use frequenciesin different patterns, the channels have different available durations.Accordingly, it is desirable to signal valid time information for eachchannel. However, when valid time information on a plurality offrequency blocks is signaled, signaling valid time for each availablechannel may increase overhead. Therefore, it may be more advantageous tosignal a list of channels available at the moment and valid timeinformation on a currently signaled channel map according to the system,and thus in an embodiment of the present invention, a channel mapincludes valid time information on the entire channel map. In this case,the shortest valid time from among valid times of available channelssignaled by the channel map is signaled.

Whether or not a specific channel is available depends on time. A valueindicating how long channel availability information included in achannel map is valid for a device that currently transmits WSMcorresponding to the channel map is valid time information. When timeinformation of the valid time field indicates that the channelavailability information is valid until a specific time, the timeinformation can be indicated as absolute time or relative time.

When the time information is indicated as relative time, the timeinformation can be represented as information indicating a period oftime starting from transmission time for which the channel availabilityinformation is valid. When the time information is represented asabsolute time, the channel map can indicate valid time through UTC. Thatis, the channel map signals that the channel availability information isvalid from a specific time irrespective of transmission time.

A device that has received a WSM determines whether the WSM is validfrom a valid time field. The device recognizes a channel correspondingto a channel map indicated by the WSM as an available channel and usethe channel if the WSM is valid, but needs to request a new WSM if not.That is, if a dependent AP has received an invalid WSM from an enablingSTA, the dependent AP should request the enabling STA to transmit avalid WSM. Upon reception of this request, the enabling STA needs totransmit the valid WSM. If there is no valid WSM, the enabling STApreferably acquires valid channel information through database query andtransmits the valid channel information to the dependent AP.

The channel map information in the above-mentioned embodiments can beexchanged between a database and unlicensed devices in all regulatorydomains operating under the control of the database, and even betweenunlicensed devices. Particularly, the channel map information ispreferably exchanged between an AP and an STA.

A device that accesses a database to acquire available channelinformation can be referred to as an AP or enabling STA, and a devicethat does not directly access the database but operates as a client ofthe AP or enabling STA can be referred to as an STA or dependent AP.

Application of Device Type of WSM

It is possible to respectively configure WSMs or channel maps for afixed device and a personal/portable device. Furthermore, it is possibleto transmit information commonly available for device types of the fixeddevice and personal/portable device and then additionally send availableinformation only for a specific device type. That is, it is possible toset the device type to the personal/portable device, collect onlyinformation on channels additionally available for the personal/portabledevice, such as channels in proximity to a channel used by an incumbentuser, and additionally transmit the collected information to thepersonal/portable device. It may be desirable to transmit MAP ID of aWSM in this manner.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views referred to for describing a method oftransmitting different information on available channels to devices inthe situation of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

For example, a WSM or channel map indicating that channel #3 isavailable at a maximum transmit power of 100 mW can be transmitted tothe fixed device, and a WSM or channel map indicating that channel #3 isavailable at a maximum transmit power of 100 mW and channels #2 and #4are available at a maximum transmit powers of 40 mW can be transmittedto the personal/portable device in the situation of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are views referred to for describing a method fortransmitting information on a common available channel to each deviceand then signaling an additional available channel to thepersonal/portable device in the situation of FIG. 4 according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a WSM or channel map indicating that channel #3 isavailable at a maximum transmit power of 100 mW, as shown in FIG. 18,can be commonly transmitted to the fixed device and thepersonal/portable device, and then a WSM or channel map having a devicetype set to the personal/portable device and indicating that channels #2and #4 are available at a maximum transmit power of 40 mW, as shown inFIG. 19, can be additionally signaled in the situation of FIG. 4. Here,it is desirable to transmit the additionally signaled WSM using the sameMAP ID as that of the commonly signaled WSM such that devices receivingthe WSMs can easily combine the WSMs having the same MAP ID.

Different spectrum masks can be supported for devices having the samedevice type (fixed or personal/portable device type). In this case, adevice using a specific spectrum mask needs to meet a minimum reductionvalue of power spectral density according to an offset frequency set inthe spectrum mask. If different spectrum mask classes are supported,different available channels and maximum allowable power levels may beallocated for devices.

FIG. 20 illustrates two different exemplary spectrum mask classes fordescribing an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 20, two different spectrum mask classes can be definedaccording to regulations. In the example of FIG. 20, spectrum mask classB has more strict restrictions than spectrum mask class A.

When a spectrum mask having a sharper edge is used, it is possible touse higher power in channels next to a channel used by an incumbent userwhile meeting conditions of interference in the incumbent user,specified by regulations. For example, if two personal/portable devicesuse different spectrum masks, as shown in FIG. 21, different channelmaps having different maximum power levels in the same TV channel can beconfigured.

That is, in an embodiment of the present invention, spectrum maskclasses are set for respective devices in addition to devices typesindicating a fixed device and a personal/portable device. Exemplarydevice types according to the current embodiment are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Device Type Description 0 Reserved 1 Fixed and Personal/PortableDevice 2 Fixed Device 3 Personal/Portable Device 4 Personal/PortableDevice (Spectrum Mask Class A) 5 Personal/Portable Device (Spectrum MaskClass B) 6-255 Reserved

In Table 5, device type 1 indicates that a corresponding channel map isequally applied to fixed and personal/portable devices. Device type 2represents that the channel map is information about a channel availableonly for the fixed device. Device type 3 means that the channel map canbe used by the personal/portable device. Device types 4 and 5 indicatechannel information available for different spectrum mask classessupported by the personal/portable device, and represent that differentchannel maps are configured depending on the spectrum mask classes.Different available channel information depending on spectrum maskclasses can also be provided to the fixed device.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of using the device type field in orderto transmit different channel maps to personal/portable devices thatsupport different spectrum mask classes.

For example, the WSM or channel map with device type of 4 in Table 5 canbe transmitted to a personal/portable device having spectrum mask classA, and the WSM or channel map with device type of 5 in Table 5 can betransmitted to a personal/portable device having spectrum mask class B.

In a band in which a channel available for unlicensed devices is variedby a licensed device temporally and spatially, such as TVWS, operationof an unlicensed device may interfere with the licensed device when aspectrum mask used by an AP in specific BSS is different from a spectrummask used by STAs. That is, when the AP accesses a database to acquirean available channel list, the database signals a specific channel as anavailable channel on the condition that the licensed device does not usethe channel at corresponding time on the assumption that the unlicenseddevice meets out-band-emission requirement for neighboring channels.According to current FCC regulations, the spectrum mask with respect toout-band emission for neighboring channels is −55 dBr. When a DTV useschannels #13 and #15 and does not use channel #14, for example, thedatabase can signal channel #14 as an available channel. However, it isnecessary to meet out-band-emission requirements of channels #13 and #15in order to use channel #14. Accordingly, if the spectrum mask of aspecific STA belonging to the AP is less strict than the spectrum maskof the AP and thus it does not satisfy regulations, the correspondingsystem is regarded to violate the regulations even though the spectrummask of the AP perfectly meets the out-band-emission requirement.Therefore, exchange of information on spectrum masks needs to beperformed in an association procedure after the AP receives theavailable channel list according to the above condition.

The AP preferably includes information on the spectrum mask thereof in abeacon, (re-)association response and probe response frame and transmitsthe information. An STA that has received this information preferablytransmits a signal using a spectrum mask stricter than the spectrum masksignaled by the AP.

The STA preferably includes information on the spectrum mask thereof ina probe request frame, and (re-) association request and transmits theinformation. If the spectrum mask of the STA is not stricter than thespectrum mask used by the AP, the AP can designate a transmit powerlevel that can be used by the STA for each spectrum mask.

Specifically, the STA can signal a spectrum mask type supported by theSTA to a probe response frame or association request frame. The spectrummask type may have a format such as the format shown in FIG. 20. Two ormore spectrum mask types may be defined. In this case, if the APsupports spectrum mask class A and the spectrum mask included in a proberesponse frame and transmitted by the STA corresponds to spectrum maskclass B, the AP preferably calculates an appropriate power level to meetthe out-band-emission requirement so as to set transmit power of the STAsupporting spectrum mask class B. Here, the AP can set a power levelthat can be used by the STA in the probe response frame.

Configuration of Apparatus

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an AP 700 andan STA 750 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 23, the AP 700 and STA 750 include transceivers 730and 780, processors 710 and 760, and optionally memories 720 and 770,respectively. In the WLAN system shown in FIG. 1, the database and/orRLS may have a configuration similar to the configuration shown in FIG.23.

The transceiver 730 of the AP 700 can transmit/receive an availablechannel information request message/available channel informationresponse message to/from the database (RLS) or STA. The availablechannel information response message may include (a) identificationinformation on an available channel, (b) information on the maximumallowable power level in the available channel, and (c) information onvalid time of the available channel, as described above. The processor710 of the AP 700 can control the AP 700 to perform a WLAN operationwithin an allowable power level in an available channel for valid timeof the available channel on the basis of the received information. TheAP 700 can store WSM information in the memory 720 for the valid time.

The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention has been given to enable those skilled in the art to implementand practice the invention. Although the invention has been describedwith reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made inthe present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention described in the appended claims. For example, an embodimentof the present invention may be constructed by combining components orconfigurations of the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited to thespecific embodiments described herein, but should be accorded thebroadest scope consistent with the principles and novel featuresdisclosed herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

While the above-described embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed based on IEEE 802.11 systems, the embodiments can be equallyapplied to various mobile communication systems in which an unlicenseddevice can operate by acquiring information on an available channel.

1. A method for a station to acquire information on an available channelfor operation in a white space band, the method comprising: transmittingan available channel information request message to a device havingdatabase information; and receiving an available channel informationresponse message from the device having database information, theavailable channel information response message comprising identificationinformation for an available channel, information on a device type towhich the available channel information response message can be applied,and, in response to the station being an access point (AP) station,information on a valid time of the available channel, wherein theinformation on a valid time is defined according to the information on adevice type.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the availablechannel information response message further comprises information on amaximum allowable power level in the available channel.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein one or more of the available channelinformation request message and the available channel informationresponse message comprise information on a plurality of availablechannels.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein thestation comprises the access point (AP).
 6. (canceled)
 7. The stationoperation method according to claim 1, wherein the available channelinformation request message comprises: a category field that indicates acategory of the available channel information request message; an actionvalue field that indicates an action to be performed through theavailable channel information request message in the category; a sourceaddress field that indicates an address of a device transmitting theavailable channel information request message; a destination addressfield that indicates an address of a device receiving the availablechannel information request message; and a field that indicatesidentification information on one or more available channels.
 8. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the available channel informationresponse message comprises: a category field that indicates a categoryof the available channel information response message; an action valuefield that indicates an action to be performed through the availablechannel information response message in the category; a source addressfield that indicates an address of a device transmitting the availablechannel information response message; a destination address field thatindicates an address of a device receiving the available channelinformation response message; and fields that indicate theidentification information for an available channel, and, in response tothe station being an access point (AP) station, the information on avalid time of the available channel for each of one or more availablechannels.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information onvalid time comprises information on an available duration of theavailable channel, starting from a reception time receiving theavailable channel information response message.
 10. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the information on valid time comprises: informationon available start time of the available channel according to theavailable channel information response message; and information on anavailable duration of the available channel, starting from the availablestart time.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the devicehaving database information comprises an AP (Access Point); and thestation is served by the AP.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A station acquiringinformation on an available channel for operating in a white space band,the station comprising: a transceiver configured to: transmit anavailable channel information request message to a device havingdatabase information; and receive, from the device having databaseinformation, an available channel information response message from thedevice having database information, the available channel informationresponse message comprising identification information for an availablechannel, information on a device type to which the available channelinformation response message can be applied, and, in response to thestation being an access point (AP) station, information on a valid timeof the available channel, wherein the information on the valid time isdefined according to the information on a device type.
 14. The stationaccording to claim 13, wherein: the available channel informationresponse message further comprises information on a maximum allowablepower level in the available channel.
 15. The station according to claim13, wherein one or more of the available channel information requestmessage and the available channel information response message compriseinformation on a plurality of available channels.
 16. (canceled)
 17. Thestation according to claim 13, wherein the station comprises the accesspoint (AP) station.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The station according to claim13, wherein the information on valid time comprises information on anavailable duration of the available channel, starting from a receptiontime receiving the available channel information response message. 20.The station according to claim 13, wherein the information on valid timecomprises: information on available start time of the available channelaccording to the available channel information response message; andinformation on an available duration of the available channel, startingfrom the available start time.
 21. The station according to claim 13,wherein: the device having database information comprises an accesspoint (AP); and the station is served by the AP.
 22. (canceled)